Baby Needs Some Brand New Shoes

Quickdraw Posts

Rockford, Illinois is not the first place (nor the second, or third, for that matter) that comes to mind when thinking of places that have produced iconic pieces of American history. Hailing from a town near Rockford that is even less exciting and a fraction of its size, it's surreal even for me to think that Rockford gave us such offerings as the original sock monkey http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sock_monkey, the Rockford Peaches http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockford_Peaches featured in "A League of Their Own", and various parts that propel the airplanes we fly every day. However, Rockford's greatest gift to the world is without a doubt, Cheap Trick. The band was officially formed in 1974 by Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander, Tom Petersson, and Bun E. Carlos. To this day, I can't get enough of the 1977 album In Color. Rumor has it the band wasn't all that happy with the production of the album, saying that producer Tom Werman wanted to highlight the band's lighter, more pop-influenced side (exactly why I love it). While the album was only slightly more successful in the U.S. than their debut album Cheap Trick released earlier the same year, it gave them mega-star status in Japan. The Japanese media deemed them "The American Beatles", and after their 3rd record went gold there (though not here in the U.S.) the band was inspired to record Cheap Trick at Budokan (only intended for release in Japan, but eventually released in the U.S. by popular demand). Today I'm posting my all-time favorite Cheap Trick track, "Southern Girls" from In Color. The toe-tapping drum intro, the beautifully ringing power chords of the verse, and the hook-laden chorus never fail to keep me moving every time I hear it. It's a 70's power pop gem, but something about the simplicity of it takes me back to a simpler era of rock and roll. Enjoy!

Cheap Trick-Southern Girls

David Berthy Posts

While yesterday's excellent mix is going a long way to cheer me up,
the gloom of recent days has had me drinking too much tea and reaching
for a certain strain of melancholy British pop. "Beachwood Park" by
The Zombies and "She Smiled Sweetly" by the Rolling Stones are both
classics of the genre. If you're familiar with them, they're well
worth revisiting whether or not the gloom persists. Listened to on a
sunny summer day, they very well might make me nostalgic for the
experience of drinking tea on a rainy afternoon while listening to a
certain strain of melancholy British pop. "Sam," is from the third
album by Bill Fay, a singer who never quite caught on, but has had
something of a rebirth in the last ten years thanks to reissues of his
three studio albums.

Melancholy Mix

back in the late 90's, the Lake Effect crew would rent a house together for a week each year up in Saugatuck, Mi. The area had one of the greatest resort radio stations of all time, blending inane Dj Patter with obscure AM radio hits that you
you knew all the words to, but had no idea who the artist was and hadn't heard since you were five years old, riding in the back of the family station wagon on the way to the supermarket or TGI Fridays.

The radio station went country, but Alvy has kept the tradition alive with a series of annual mixes to keep our Summer soundtrack rolling. This years is a real doozy, highlighted by an incredibly Steve Windwood-esque Santana hit "I'm Winning", Leo Sayers incomparable jam "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing", and a pair of hits from the Little River Band, plus 20 or so others.

Here, courtesy of Alvy, is the complete mix. Do yourself a favor and download it, your Summer will thank you, if it ever gets here.

Summer Jamz 09

RIP Jay Bennett

One of the driving forces and creative minds behind my favorite era of Wilco's music (Being There, Summer Teeth, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot), Jay Bennett, died of undisclosed causes at the age of 45 this past weekend. Known as a pioneer in putting the alt into alt-country, Bennett split with the band in 2001 amidst unpleasant circumstances laid out unflatteringly by the band in the film I Am Trying To Break Your Heart:A Film About Wilco. Disputes continued and just weeks ago Bennett filed suit against his former bandmate Jeff Tweedy for breach of contract relating to his work in Wilco.

Here's a beautiful track from his latest solo album, 2006's Magnificent Defeat.

Survey The Damage

QD and I caught The artist formerly known as Cat Stevens on the Colbert Report recently. Now going by the moniker Yusuf, (I suppose the name "Islam" isn't a great boost for record sales), the artist has just released his first album in nearly three decades. Watvhing him perform we were surprised at how much he sounds like, well, Cat Stevens! Colbert's brass balled questioning was priceless. Heres the title track from the new album Roadsinger .


Roadsinger

David Berthy Posts

Muskegon, Michigan’s Betty LaVette recorded “You’ll Never Change” in
1963 and “Let Me Down Easy” in 1965. Though both songs are about
heartbreak and even share some similar lyrics, it would be a shame to post
one without the other. “You’ll Never Change” features a poppier sound,
some memorable backing vocals, and the defiant tone of a one-sided
argument. “Let Me Down Easy” is the other side of that argument--a
solitary lament--and evokes genuine vulnerability with a raw vocal
performance backed by haunting strings.

Betty Lavette

Tony B Posts


As Simo posted a week or two back, i did pick up a couple records from the chicago-based reissue label Numero recently (new to me) ... including a double LP set called "Good God! The Gospel Funk Hymnal".

And when I mentioned that to someone they responded: "There's such a thing?" To which Numero responds:

"A collection of this nature can only exist in hindsight. ... There aren't any labels, artists, or producers that focused strictly on funky gospel music; rather, there were a couple hundred groups that had a funkier number in their repertoire"


In this case here's a disco, very Curtis Mayfield-inspired version of the spiritual standard "Wayfaring Stranger" ... which is a song usually associated with country or bluegrass (and apparently, Burl Ives).

Also included is a live Neko Case version with a great banjo solo ... compare and contrast if you will.

WAYFARING STRANGERS

Perennial Uke caberet player C. Everett Uke opened the last show with a dead-on rendition of Manu Chao's "Bongo Bong", a song I myself had tried to prepare but gave up on due to the lyrical delivery demands. The next week, I brought the song in to the kids at The Intonation Music Workshop at Taylor Park to find all three classes giggling uncontrollably at the playful boasting of the song's narrator. They wanted to learn the song and did so in no time.



The track is the first solo single from Manu Chao's debut album Clandestino, released in 2000. Its a remake of Mano Negra's song, "King of Bongo" (1991), which has its roots from a 1939 recording of "King of the Bongo Bong" by the trumpeter, Roy Eldridge.

Play this one for your kids!

Bongo Bong

David Berthy Posts

I'm going to go ahead and kick off the summer songs season with two
songs from Africa and hope the weather will eventually cooperate.
First is Armee Guineenne, by Guinea's Bembeya Jazz National. Famed
guitarist Sekou "Diamond Fingers" Diabete achieves a depth of tone
here that pairs especially well to the slowness of a hot day, and this
song has been at the top of my most played itunes list the last two
summers. Next up is "Sunday Morning" by Zambian supergroup Amanaz.
The first line, "Sunday morning, and we're sitting outside..." is
followed by five gloriously unhurried minutes that are the perfect
soundtrack for lazy weekend mornings in the shade.

Summer Songs

Quickdraw Posts!

This past weekend Simo, Tony B. and I attempted an enthusiastic cover of the song Barracuda by Heart at the incredibly fun animal-themed uke cabaret "Uke Zoologica". As I was preparing for the considerable vocal challenge, I became a bit obsessed with the band. I have long been a fan of their pioneer status in the arena of female rockers as well as their infectious Zeppelin-influenced sound. I was struck, however, when I rediscovered the title track to their 1976 debut album Dreamboat Annie which I hadn't heard in years. In contrast to their more gritty singles, this one has a remarkable Carpenters-esque folky vibe, especially in the lead and backing vocals. Perhaps my favorite part of the song is the banjo roll in the second verse, giving it the feel of a dreamy yet slightly sad travelin' song.

Heart-Dreamboat Annie

Another birthday gift, this one from Alvy, hasn't left my turntable in the last few days. Histoire de Melody Nelson is a 1971 concept album by controversial French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. The Lolita-esque pseudo-autobiographical plot involves the middle-aged Gainsbourg unintentionally colliding his Rolls Royce Silver Ghost into teenage nymphet Melody Nelson's bicycle, and the subsequent seduction and romance that ensues. Histoire de Melody Nelson is considered by many critics and fans to be Gainsbourg's most influential and accomplished album. Beck obviously loved it, as he pillaged this track for "Paper Tiger" from Sea Change.

Melody

Join us this Saturday 9:00 PM at Silvies for Uke Zoologica, a four-string celbration of the animal kingdom. With 14 acts already signed up, this promises to be the best Ukulele Cabaret yet. We Hope to see you there! Thanks to Tony B for sending this track in.

The Kinks -Animal Farm

David Berthy Posts

In continuing with Leonard Cohen, here are some of my favorite covers
of his songs. Part of what was emotional about seeing the show last
night was listening to songs I’ve experienced as very personal in a
communal space. For me, it brought home how universal Cohen's subject
matter is. The two performers I’ve picked, Jeff Buckley and Antony,
understand that Cohen's songs at their best are about nothing less
than the human condition, and perform them with appropriate reverance.
As a bonus, I’ll throw in “Suzanne” as performed by French chanteuse
Francoise Hardy.

Cover Songs

Tonight is the long anticipated Leonard Cohen show at The Chicago theatre. The 74 year old bard has been on the road for nearly a year now, with another one yet to go. It will be interesting to compare tonight's show to the one Heather and I saw last year in Toronto, which was the first of the tour. Perhaps he will again open the second set with
Tower of Song, accompanied by himself on the Casio.

Tower of Song

Tony B hooked me up with this Double Vinyl LP from the terrific Numero Group label.
Home Schooled, The ABCs of Kid Soul, a collection of tracks from 1970's kid soul bands is an inspired gift for someone who runs a youth pop band workshop! The album caught my attention right out of the gate with this Kids Rights Anthem "Trust Your Child" from Patrizia & Jimmy

Trust Your Child

Join us tonight, dear listeners, for an Intonation Music Worskhop benefit at The Hideout featuring local indie stalwarts David Singer & The Sweet Science and Horse in the Sea, both of whom count IMW instructors among their members. Stick around afterwards for a dance party with DJ Solucien and witness yours truly upgrading to 4.0 at midnight.

Today's track is "Mosquito King" from Horse in the Sea's 2007 album I Order The Sun To Shine on Everyone

Mosquito King